Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis
Author's Note: The most awaited meeting is here! Let's see… Thank you for all the love! Because of you, I am hell bent to finish this story.
Chapter 10
Sakuno and Ryoma
Sakuno was still shocked. Ryoma was dragging her out of the hospital and into his car. He slightly pushed her into the shotgun seat.
"Hey!" she yelled as her butt hit the seat. But he did not respond. Ryoma's face was still devoid of emotions as he closed the door of the car. He walked around and sat at the driver's seat. Sakuno could hear his hard breathing as if he was trying to calm down.
She was just observing him when he turned to her and his face was getting closer to her.
"W-What are you doing?" she suddenly felt nervous.
"Are you scared, Sa-ku-no?" a hint of teasing was in his voice which made her looked at him straight in his eyes. It was a wrong move for her as she can see multiple emotions in his golden orbs. Anger, irritation, hope, longing and love. Love? She must've been dreaming. He never had loved her. She never heard it from him at least.
With that though, she sat straight and she answered as boldly as she can.
"Why would I be?" there was indifference in her voice.
A pang of pain crossed his beautiful eyes but then it was gone in seconds. Ryoma returned to his unemotional façade.
"Hn," he grunted but he advanced towards her still.
"S-stop!"
Ryoma's brows rose in question as he locked her seatbelt. Sakuno gave an inaudible sigh.
"You assume too much, Sakuno," she scolded herself.
Ryoma started the car and drove in silence. Five minutes later, Sakuno noticed a familiar place. The car stopped in front of a temple. The temple that was owned by Ryoma's family. He opened the car door for her as she reluctantly went out of it.
"W-What are we doing here?"
He did not answer her. Instead he grabbed her wrist and dragged her towards the steps of the temple.
"Hey! Stop dragging me!" she yelled.
But Ryoma did not listen. He did not even stop to look at her. He just continued to drag her towards the courts where he and his father usually play. They stopped in front of the large bell. The place looked the same as 10 years ago. Seems like it was being taken care of by Ryoma's family.
"Let go of me, Echizen-san!"
Ryoma turned and raised a brow at her.
"You have no right to drag me anywhere you want. My daughter's in the hospital with a big bruise but here I am being dragged by you."
She continued to rant at him but he remained poker faced. He kept her wrist locked in his hand. He likes the feeling of her skin in his hands.
"What happened to "Ryoma-kun"?"
Sakuno's jaws dropped in disbelief. She has been nagging him since they arrived but he only heard her when she called him "Echizen-san"? She could not believe it! This man is so aggravating.
"Despite everything I said, you only heard that? Unbeli— "
She was cut off when she felt his lips on hers. The kiss was short but deep. She was speechless.
"That should shut you up, "Ryoma smirked.
Sakuno's face turned beet red in shame.
Ryoma had noticed how she had blushed.
"So, she hadn't changed that much eh? Her lips taste the same," he thought as he looked at her in amusement.
She must have gathered her thoughts as she looked at him in the eyes.
"Let me go, Echizen-san," she almost whispered.
"No."
He slid his fingers down her hands and he intertwined it.
"You are not allowed to leave me again. Not today. Not in forever," he declared.
She looked at him in disbelief.
"You can't do that to me!"
"I can."
"No!"
"Try me and you'll never see OUR kids again," he challenged.
Sakuno felt her knees weakened and her tears started to fall.
"Please, Ryoma-kun. Don't take my children away," she pleaded.
Ryoma sighed. He hates seeing her cry. And he wanted to hit himself for making her cry in the first place. He pulled her closer and he wrapped his arms around her. He really felt good knowing that this woman is in his arms. It's the feeling he wants for a long time.
"Shhh… I won't take them away. In one condition."
Sakuno looked up to see him looking at her.
"How did he become so tall?" Sakuno thought. She felt comfortable in his arms. The comfort she had been dreaming of since he left. It simply felt like home.
"W-What condition?" she asked.
"Marry me."
Sakuno was stunned. Did she just hear him say "marry me"? A blush started to creep in her face. She was not expecting it from him at all. Her heart felt very happy but then her head is saying not to gamble again. She could not afford to take away his dreams from him. She loves him that much. Though she has never heard him say he loves her too, she knew Ryoma liked her up to some degree but not enough for her to marry him. And she saw from the news that he was about to be married to that model named, Ai.
She slowly pushed herself away from him. His grip loosening but not completely letting her go. She slowly shook her head no. She wanted to cry, but she held herself back. She gave him a sweet smile.
"No, Ryoma-kun. I won't marry you."
"Why?" confusion clouded his eyes.
Her smile grew wider but her eyes shows a different thing. She was sad and deeply hurt.
"I promised myself that I'll only marry the man that I love and the man who loves me back. If you wanted to be a father to the kids, please don't do it at my expense."
Ryoma was taken aback. Did she think he was asking her to marry him only because of Saya and Ryuu? Ryoma shook his head to clear it. She was denser that he had thought. He sighed. He thinks he needs his kids' help this time. He took her left hand again and pulled her towards the house just beside the temple.
"Hn. I'm hungry."
Though it hurts, he just got rejected for the first time, he knew that he had to be patient with her. Ryuu had informed him how his mother cried at night calling out his name. He promised his children that he'll marry their mother by hook or by crook. Now he knows why his son was giving him a "good luck". His mother was one tough and hard headed lady.
They just entered the house when his phone just beeped. Sakuno gave him a bored stare when he did not let go. He reluctantly let go of Sakuno's hand. He received two messages from his kids.
Fr: Sa-chan
How's Mom, Dad?
Fr: Ryuu-chan
Did she say "yes", Dad?
Ryoma was left alone in the living room. He had asked his mother ahead to have the house cleaned before the camp was over. Though he has not informed his parents yet about his kids.
To: Sa-chan
She seems to be okay, little girl.
To: Ryuu-chan
She said NO.
Fr: Sa-chan
Did you make mommy cry again, daddy?
Fr: Ryuu-chan
WHAT?! Did you tell her you love her first?
Ryoma stiffened.
To: Sa-chan
I'm sorry, little girl. Your mom and I had a misunderstanding. She cried a little.
To: Ryuu-chan
How do I tell her that? Your mother won't even listen to me.
As he was talking to his children, Sakuno was busy cooking for him. He was getting desperate. He needed her to marry him. Not because of their children but it's because he loves her. Problem is, how the hell would he tell her if she was so hell bent not to listen to him?
An and Momo
"Y-Yuki-nee, we have to go," An had the presence of mind to drag Tomoka with her. But before they could step out of the room, Momo was already blocking their way. An visibly paled. She knew that she would need to face him sooner or later. What she did not expect that it would be this soon.
"You are not going anywhere, missy," Momo smirked as he snatched her from Tomo's grip and pulled her out of the twin's room.
Momo does not care what the others will think. He needs to talk to this woman. She left him without any word. He had looked for her but she was nowhere to be found. Not even her brother knew where she was.
An realized that they were walking out of the hospital and into the parking lot. She started to scream at him but he did not let go. She can't let him drag her around because the mere fact that he was holding her wrist gives her a feeling she thought was long gone. That nothing but hatred and anger was all she has towards Takeshi Momoshiro.
"Help! This man is harassing me!" she was trying to get away from him that she decided to make a scene.
Momo stopped but did not let her go still.
"Oh c'mon, An-chan. Tell me you don't want to go that way, "Momo smirked. He knew how An thinks but then he was prepared.
People are looking strangely at them.
"It's okay people! Y'know how pregnant women are," Momo grinned.
Random people applauded and gave their congratulations to them.
"Thank you, everyone. It's time for me and my wife to go home," Momo then carried her in bridal style.
An was embarrass and she can't do anything. She was not able to say anything to defend herself so she just hid her face at the crook of Momo's neck.
"This porcupine head is just so full of himself! Argh! If only I can strangle his neck," An thought. The moment she lifted her head to say something to Momo she was cold shock as her lips brushed his. A blush automatically crept in her face. She moved away from him but it was too late. Momo has grabbed her head and gave her a knee melting kiss.
He let go of her lips with a welcoming smile. It made her heart flutter like it used to when they were together.
"Welcome home, wife," Momoshiro smiled genuinely, his eyes were full of emotions.
This has left An unmoving.
Tomo and Kaidoh
"Hey! Let me go, you stupid snake!" Tomo was screaming her lungs out. Just like An, she was dragged from the twins' room towards the elevator. Kaidoh has her right wrist in a vice grip that she could not get out of.
"Let me go!" she was starting to hit his broad shoulder.
"I'd rather you stop hitting me or you'll just hurt yourself more," Kaidoh said not even looking at her.
But she did not listen. She held her left arm high and without second thought she swung her fist that has landed on Kaidoh's left cheek. But he just gives a "Fssh" and did not budge from the impact.
"Aww!" she whined. His face was pretty hard and she thinks she just broke a bone.
Kaidoh turned to her with worry in his eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he softly held her left hand.
The pain was unbearable and she was trying her best not to cry but because of her frustrations she can't help but cry. But she knew that her tears were because of a completely different reason.
"H-Hey," Kaidoh held Tomo's hand softly but she did not even raise her head to see him.
Sakuno, An and herself knew that one of these days they'd be seeing these men. But what they did not realize was it was too soon. The hurt she felt because of him was again showed and she cannot bear another rejection.
"I'm sorry," Kaidoh whispered as he kissed her knuckles. What she does not know was… Is he sorry for the pain it caused her when she punched him? Or was it because she rejected her a long time ago?
She does not want to know.
Author's note:
I'm so sorry for the delay. I was sick for a long time and was not able to continue the story. But here it is… Cliffhanger, I know… Chapter 11 is on the works… Hope you like it.